The Chicago Bears' offense was fun to watch last season, but their defense was a different story. While the secondary thrived with big plays and forcing turnovers, the front seven failed to put any pressure on the line of scrimmage.
That has to be a point of emphasis heading into this offseason. Chicago must bolster its pass rush and add a physical presence to the defensive line. Sometimes, teams take an 'addition by subtraction' approach to solve some of those issues.
That might as well be the case in Chicago. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, teams are keeping tabs on Gervon Dexter, and that would leave the door wide open for Shemar Turner to take his spot.
The Bears Need to Turn to Shemar Turner
"Sources: Teams have inquired with the Bears about trading for DT Gervon Dexter, as the free-agent DT market and draft class are not deep," Schultz wrote on X. "The 24-year-old started all 17 games last season and has 13.5 career sacks and 42 QB hits. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract."
According to Over The Cap, the Bears are $4.11 million over the salary cap. Trading Dexter would free $1.66 million, and while that doesn't sound like a lot, every single cent counts when you're trying to free up money during the offseason.
Dexter started 17 games for the Bears last season. He logged 44 total tackles, 11 QB hits, six tackles for loss, and posted a career-best 6.0 sacks, the second-most on the team. He also had two fumble recoveries. Those numbers aren't that bad at all. It also doesn't hurt that Dexter is on a team-friendly contract and is just 24 years old.
That said, a former second-round pick like Shemar Turner has a higher ceiling, and after not being much of a factor as a rookie, clearing space to create room for him makes perfect sense for Dennis Allen's defense.
Turner missed his first two games after suffering an ankle injury in training camp. Then, he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 8. He should be ready to roll for OTAs, but these ailments are complicated, and the team will probably err on the side of caution with him.
By all measures, moving on from Dexter would be a bit of a gamble. He doesn't have the same star potential as Turner, but he's still young and on a team-friendly deal. The Bears have to explore all their options, but if they hold onto both, it wouldn't be shocking to see them roll with Turner as the starter next season.